By Adedapo Adesanya
Indorama-Nigeria, the parent company of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals and Indorama Fertiliser, has disclosed that its molecular laboratory accredited by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will help to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Rivers State and by extension, Nigeria.
The NCDC on Thursday announced that it has accredited five new molecular laboratories across the federation, bringing the total to 58 labs in 30 states.
Apart from Indorama Company Molecular Lab, located in Port Harcourt, Rivers, the other four laboratories accredited for the testing of COVID-19 in the country yesterday by NCDC were the Edo Specialist Hospital, Benin; ATBU Teaching Hospital, Bauchi; State Specialist Hospital, Amachara, Abia and the University of Abuja, Gwagwalada GX Lab.
According to the Head, Corporate Communications, Indorama-Nigeria, Mrs Jossy Nkwocha, the Indorama Molecular Laboratory will not only help fight COVID-19 and other health crisis that may arise in the future but also help sustain agriculture and industrialisation in the country.
Mrs Nkwocha added that its molecular laboratory with state-of-the-art medical equipment is to ensure that over 7,000 workforce that enters the company complex, are safe through regular testing and treatment for anyone found positive for the virus.
“The Indorama Molecular Laboratory will, therefore, add strategic value to the sustenance of the company’s production of fertilizers for Nigerian farmers and the production of petrochemical products for various industries.
“Indorama fertiliser has remained very strategic in Nigeria’s agricultural sector and ensuring food security across the country.”
On behalf of the Managing Director of Indorama-Nigeria, Mr Manish Mundra, she expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Ministry of Health and the NCDC for their guidance in actualising the setting up of the molecular laboratory.
Indorama Fertilisers, which began roll-out in December 2016, has been strategic in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, through the supply of cheap and regular supply of the agric input since then, thereby helping to ensure food security across the country.
Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Limited (IEPL), on the other hand, is a Poly-Olefins producer of a range of Polyethylene and Polypropylene products. IEPL formerly a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) but under the Privatization Program, the Indorama Group emerged as the core investor and acquired the unit in August 2006.
